How Dental Fillings Treat Cavities

According to reports, around 3.5 billion people worldwide are affected by oral diseases. Approximately thirty-two percent of adults have cavities that have not been filled, and about seventeen percent of kids have untreated caries. If these caries are not treated, they result in tooth decay or loss. Dentists use different kinds of materials to fill these cavities to prevent bacteria from spreading.

Padding a cavity is the most common procedure for repairing a damaged tooth and is almost painless and could take about an hour. With your caries filled, your tooth is saved from further decay, and its function is restored. It also evens out the surface of the impacted tooth and enhances jaw function while chewing or biting. 

If you have cavities and have been advised of a dental filling, this article will tell you everything you need to know about this procedure.

What Are Cavities?

When bacteria destroys parts of a tooth, it leaves behind a hole in the affected dentition, called cavities or caries. 

• These caries contain the bacteria that invaded your tooth and created the hole.
• Untreated caries would worsen the disease as the infection would spread, which could eventually damage the tooth or even enter the bloodstream.

What Is Dental Filling?

A dental filling is composed of either a single material or it could be a combination of plastics, metal, glass, composite resin, or other materials.

• These oral fixtures are used to restore or repair a decayed tooth.
• This is placed within the hole created due to caries, and your dentist has removed that part of your tooth to stop the spread of bacteria.
• You could also get these oral paddings done for broken or chipped teeth. Teeth undergo wear and tear due to misuse (teeth grinding or biting nails) or get cracked due to injury.
• Any of the following materials can be used for padding the hole in your tooth.
  • Gold
  • Silver amalgam (composed of mercury mixed with copper, tin, silver, and zinc.)
  • Porcelain.
  • Composite resins are tooth-colored glass or plastic materials.

Why Should I Get My Tooth Filled?

Due to tooth decay, we often develop tooth sensitivity as the infection progresses deep down in the roots of the tooth.

• If the decay is not stopped, it can expose the inner nerves in our mouths and compromise the structural integrity of our teeth.
• Such a decayed tooth becomes a site of constant inflammation and infection.
• You should get this infection removed as soon as possible to prevent it from damaging surrounding teeth and other areas of your body.
• Once your dentist removes the decay, there will be a hole left in your tooth which could create a problem if not filled.
• The tooth needs to be filled to prevent plaque or bacteria from building inside this hole and developing a more severe infection.
• Filling the tooth makes it more robust and improves resistance to chipping and cracking.

Dental Filling Procedure

The dental filling procedure involves the removal of decay from the tooth using a drill and then placing a filling inside the decayed part to replace the portion of the tooth destroyed by the decay. The exact steps of this procedure are outlined below:

• The first step would be to inspect the tooth to determine the extent of decay and the filling needed.
• This procedure is best suited for minor decay or fractures. For more severe cases, your dentist would recommend other restorative procedures such as dental implants, crowns, etc.
• The examination might be done using a dental probe and caries-detecting liquid to figure out problematic areas. Your dentist might even take an X-ray of your impacted tooth to get more precise information about the location of the decay and its severity.
• If your doctor deems that a dental filling is suitable for your specific condition, s/he will choose a type of filling depending on the location of the cavity, your medical history, cosmetic needs, etc.
• The dentist would first inject local anesthesia around the affected tooth to numb the area. The anesthesia will also numb the jaw and gums surrounding the tooth to be treated.
• Using a drill, the dentist would remove the bacteria from the decayed tooth. Few dentists also use a laser for this step.
• Next, the dentist would prepare the area for filling by cleansing the area with acid gel. This will ensure any remaining bacteria or debris is thoroughly eradicated.
• The method of inserting the material differs based on the type of filling being used.
• Your dentist needs to isolate your impacted tooth to place the composite filling to prevent any interference in the bonding process. To achieve this, s/he would place various adhesives before the material.
• The doctor would use special bonding light to harden the composite material.
• Lastly, the finished tooth is polished to complete the dental filling procedure.

What Are the Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Different Types of Dental Fillings

The different types of fillings used and their advantages and disadvantages are listed below:

• Gold 
  • Pros – It can last a minimum of ten to fifteen years, and some find it aesthetically pleasing.
  • Cons – It is more expensive than any other material, and you might have to go to the dentist’s office more than once.
• Silver
  • Pros – It can last up to ten to fifteen years and is less expensive than composite material.
  • Cons – This may require a large portion of the tooth to be removed to make place for the padding, giving a grayish hue to the surrounding structure, and one might also become highly prone to tooth fractures and cracks due to a wide range of contraction and expansion. Some people might also be allergic to this material.
• Tooth-colored composite
  • Pros – Its color can match your tooth color closely, and it bonds to the existing tooth giving it additional support.
  • Cons – It mostly lasts five years and is prone to chipping. It is also almost double in cost compared to amalgams and might require additional visits.

Dental fillings are necessary to fill minor cavities and protect your tooth from further decay, and they can also be used for cosmetic purposes, such as correcting chipped teeth. Various materials are used for this procedure, and the choice of material would depend upon your medical condition, financial constraints, and aesthetic needs.